Lots of people give their favorite politicians campaign contributions. But Baton Rouge lawyer Tony Clayton gave a gift, not campaign cash, to Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans. And it was far from routine.

According to a recent financial disclosure statement from Richmond, Clayton last year gave Richmond a tuxedo valued at $2,000. Richmond said the Committee on Ethics approved the gift under the "personal friendship exception" to the rule limiting gifts to congressional members.

"Mr. Clayton is a longtime family friend of Congressman Richmond's," said Richmond spokeswoman Monique Waters. "His gift was purely personal and was not a campaign donation. However, due to the value of the suit, the Committee on Ethics was notified and gave approval before the congressman even agreed to accept it. Furthermore, they have a history of exchanging gifts of equal or lesser value."